Army takes over Zambo security from MBLT-9

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) Commander Col. Juvymax Uy yesterday confirmed the transfer of the Marine Battalion Landing Team – 9 (MBLT 9) from Zamboanga City to Task Force Tawi-Tawi, which guards the country’s southern borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.

Uy said the Marine battalion in Zamboanga City has been pulled out and deployed to Tawi-Tawi.

Uy explained that the “MBLT 9 was pulled out because the Marines are a national maneuver force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) so their capabilities are needed to join Task Force Tawi-Tawi to guard borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.”

The MBLT 9 has been replaced by the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion whose forces have now occupied all positions vacated by the Marines in this city, Uy said.

The Marine troops were deployed to Zamboanga City during the September 2013 siege.

First to be deployed was the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 (MBLT 1), and was later replaced by the MBLT 9.

The TFZ Commander also assured the people in this city of the capability of the Army troops in securing Zamboanga City against lawless elements.

“I’d like to assure the people of Zamboanga City, don’t worry. The armed forces, the Marines has its own capability, the army battalion has its own capability. There are some security concerns that the army battalion could be fully utilized in Zamboanga City,” Uy emphasized.